Five-star hotels to be built in GB

BEIJING - Vice Chairman Board of Investment Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Nazeem-ul-Ameen has said that the construction of five-star hotels would soon be started to attract more foreign and domestic tourists particularly the Chinese visitors in the scenic areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Terming tourism as the largest industry in GB, he informed that the menace of terrorism had spoiled this important industry leaving a number of people jobless.

He, however, remarked that owing to improvement in the security situation, around 1.5 million domestic and international tourists visited Gilgit-Baltistan during the last three years.

The Vice-Chairman informed that more than 22,000 foreign tourists visited different areas of Gilgit-Baltistan this year which was significant for the development of the area.

Raja Nazeem who attended the 8th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) held here last week, said that the GB had presented a proposal for the construction of two power

projects with a capacity of 100 MW 80 MW each to be built under the private partnership.

“We have also proposed construction of a under the infrastructure development plan linking Gilgit-Ghyzer-Chitral, Shandur and Chakdra,”, adding, the mode of payment would be discussed in the forthcoming Joint Working Group meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad in January.

He informed that according to a feasibility report, the GB has a capacity to generate around 53,000 MW hydel electricity at a low cost and added, “We are trying to convince the private sector to come forward and participate in the construction of these projects.”

He said that this huge potential could help the provincial government to export electricity in future, provide employment to local and save foreign exchange.